NO you need a retail copy of XP and then you can downgrade

Hi

If the Dell technical support rep told you this why even bother asking your question ?

Microsoft says it is not legal to move a OEM XP form the computer it came on

and use it for another computer !

But if it is Retail you can use it but you have to remove it from the old computer then you will have to use the phone to get it to work.

I think the REP is wrong on what he or she told you Microsoft makes the rules the Dell REP does not

Microsoft owns the software you just have the rights to use it the way they tell you ! 

I do not know how old your Inspiron 2600 is but if it has XP SP1 it may not work if you try to install it on a new computer and you will end up with all kinds of problems .

No everyone does not hate Vista just the ones that do not know how to use Vista !!!   

Apologies for intruding, but I believe there is some misunderstanding going on.

Given the age of the Inspiron 2600 I'm sure it was delivered with Windows XP.  Assuming you still have the back-up disk that originally shipped with the computer it is perfectly legal for you to use that disk to return the Windows XP OS to your computer.  You should also have received a Dell Resource Disk that contains drivers and utilities for your computer.

The way this works for my Dimension 2400 or my Inspiron 5160 is that you boot from the Windows XP disk, use the menus you're given to first delete the existing NTFS partition (the largest on the disk, or if the others have been removed, the only one on the disk), create a new NTFS partition in the now unused space, and choose to install Windows XP in the newly created partition.  Once this is complete you can put your Resource Disk in the CD drive and allow the application to install.  Choose your model from the pane on the left and choose drivers from a menu at the top of the screen.  The application will examine your computer and show a list of possible drivers.  The drivers it thinks you need will have a check mark at the left of the descriptions.  You must install them one at a time in this order:  Notebook System Software (omit this if not on screen), Chipset driver, Video driver, Network driver, Sound driver.  If you have others you may choose the order of whatever remains.  If you have a modem it has its own driver disk that you must use after you finish with the Resource Disk.  If for some reason you cannot locate your Resource Disk, you can also find the drivers here.

Once done, don't forget to load the anti-virus or security software of your choice.  If your security software has a firewall, don't forget to disable the firewall in Windows (assuming your Windows XP installation is with Service Pack 2-should already be on your installation disk).  Your first visit to the internet should be to update the definitions in your security software, followed by the Windows update for the OS.  After all of this you may install whatever applications you will be using.

Good luck!

Depends on what you are calling new!    :smileyvery-happy:

My 5160 is about the same vintage as your 2600, so I am sure I am accurate for that one.  Once you get into machines using Vista I am not so certain.  I have one machine in the house that has Vista and as yet have not needed to reinstall, therefore I haven't the experience.

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Flordagirl wrote:
Does anyone know if I can use the backup disk that came with my Inspiron 2600 to install windows XP into a Dell laptop that has Vista installed?

That is not legal, no matter what anyone tells you. But the installer won't stop you and it definitely won't ask you to activate ... :smileysurprised:

( everyone hates Vista so I don't even know why Dell only makes one XP model now)

 

i find that people that don't know how to use vista are the haters, no one else has problems with vista

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Florda Girl;

It appears I may have misunderstood your question; I presumed that you had installed Vista on your Inspiron 2600 and wanted to return your 2600 to using Windows XP.  The Windows XP is licensed only to your 2600.  Using the backup disk from your 2600 to install Windows XP onto another laptop that was delivered with Vista does violate the EULA and is not legal.

I apologize for any misunderstanding.